Harmless Fan Has Ribbon Blades (Jul, 1935)
Filed under: House and Home — @ 10:17 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1935
Buy on Ebay
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1935
Buy on Ebay
I actually just bought one of these
Harmless Fan Has Ribbon Blades
SILK ribbons, held in loops, form the blades of a harmless electric fan recently demonstrated at the Industrial Arts Exposition in New York. The ribbons give a standard pitch when rotating and are said to be able to throw a current of air ten feet away.
Why not just use sharp big razor blades and encase them in a cage (like today’s fans)?
But seriously, whouldn’t it be easier NOT to have exposed fan blades? no matter if they’re harmless .
Comment by albear — March 20, 2008 @ 10:54 am
That it is an interesting idea, I think soft rubber would be more practical for the paddles.
Comment by Myles — March 20, 2008 @ 10:59 am
They used to make rubber ones, my folks had a three blade rubber fan when I was little back in the 60s.
The rubber eventually got brittle and I suppose the thing was as dangerous as a plastic bladed fan with no shroud. If the motor case hadn’t cracked and fallen apart it would probably still be around.
Comment by Neil Russell — March 20, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
I have had Caframo fans for years. They are much quieter and do a much better job of moving air than a caged fan that has a grille that creates turbulence. They all have a nifty flexible blade with bumpers on the leading edge. Unfortunately my three-year-old boy loves to stick his hands in the rotating blade. While this is fun I’m not sure it’s a good life-lesson.
http://www.caframo.com/electricfans.htm
Comment by Craig — March 21, 2008 @ 4:51 am
Thanks for the link, interesting. Using box fans right now so this is very handy.
Comment by Tim Giachetti — March 21, 2008 @ 8:19 am